Richmond upon Thames

Literature: Japanese - Murasaki

Read another brilliant novel written by a woman and discover a whole new civilisation.

This group will deal with the fascinating culture of Heian Japan - before the Samurai and the civil wars. Around the year 1000 a Japanese lady, Murasaki, wrote what is often considered the first psychological novel and the first novel that can be read for pleasure, The Tale of Genji. Ladies of the court had economic independence and a surprising amount of sexual freedom. Murasaki handles themes of love, jealousy and sexual desire in a remarkably modern way. Her hero Genji is brilliant but his love for one woman does not fit easily with marriage conventions and his compulsion to chase after other women.

We will read an abridged modern translation of the Tale of Genji along with other material from and about this period.